News of The Day : 22nd January 2026

News of The Day – 22nd Jan 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Society)

• Contributions of Graca Machel to peace, women’s rights, and child welfare. 
• About Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
• Purpose and significance of the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• About the anti-drug campaign.
• Focus on prevention, de-addiction, rehabilitation, and supply-chain disruption. 
• Linked to internal security, youth welfare, and social justice
• About India’s Anti-Drug Strategy and NDPS Act, 1985
• Centre–State coordination, and community participation.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• SC differentiates constitutionally mandated welfare from fiscally unsound freebies.
• Balance between social justice and fiscal prudence.
• Significance: Relevant to electoral promises, FRBM discipline and public finance debates.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Rapid expansion of HEIs without quality safeguards flagged. 
• Issues: faculty shortages, regulatory gaps, student mental-health crisis. 
• Reinforces need for systemic reforms and accountability in higher education.

(GS-2: International Relations)

• About Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative
• Focus on maritime security, marine ecology, and capacity building. 
• Significance of expanding participation for India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and maritime cooperation.

(GS-3: Economy)

• Capital infusion strengthens SIDBI’s lending capacity. 
• Boosts MSME credit flow, entrepreneurship, employment, and financial inclusion.
• About SIDBI

(GS-3: Economy)

• About Atal Pension Yojana
• Features of APY, target beneficiaries, government co-contribution, and relevance for social security of unorganised workers.

(GS-3: Economy)

• Key Features of the Draft National Electricity Policy. 
• Renewable integration, grid stability, DISCOM reforms, and legal basis under Electricity Act, 2003.
• Roadmap for sustainable and affordable power sector. 

(GS-3: Environment)

• Concept of Zero Waste / Zero Fresh Waste Dump cities. 
• Urban waste management practices and link to Swachh Bharat Mission.
• About circular economy goals.

(GS-3: Environment)

• Key findings of the UN warning. 
• Links between water scarcity, climate change, governance failures, and SDG-6.
• Implications for food security, urban planning.
• Highlights unsustainable water use and climate stress. 

(GS-3: Environment)

• Meaning and purpose of Eco-Sensitive Zones. 
• Legal basis, permitted/restricted activities, and conservation role in Aravalli region.

(GS-3: Environment)

• About ant flies (family Sepsidae) and relevance of biodiversity documentation.
• Adds to India’s insect biodiversity records.
• Significance of species discovery: Highlights ecological richness of urban and Western Ghats ecosystems.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• Artemis Programme objectives. 
• Significance of Artemis-II as first crewed lunar mission and future deep-space plans.
• Key milestone in lunar exploration and deep-space missions.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• Nature of the Wiley Research Heroes Prize. 
• Global recognition for impactful medical research.
• Highlights India’s growing footprint in global science and innovation